My Personal Nova Scotia Plate Project 2021 - 2024:
Nine Different Specialty Plates plus
Three Great Regular Issues in Three Years, all on my 2008 Kia Spectra
This page is best seen on your computer, not your phone!   Last updated May 17, 2024

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May 14, 2024, Project Completed!

In mid-2021 I had on my 2008 Kia Spectra the regular issue Nova Scotia plate CPP111.   This had been issued to me in 1993 and had been on various cars over the years.   Back then I had a friend whose spouse worked in one of the plate-issuing offices and with her help I obtained that great double-letter, triple number plate.   By 2021, almost thirty years later, it was showing its age, though still perfectly legible, and I began thinking of maybe replacing it.  This began my project of obtaining and placing on my car every type of specialty plate possible.   This photo taken on May 14 shows the result. The plates are arranged pretty much in the order I obtained them, thus we start with my original CPP111 in the top left, then go to GAR77, then LAL33, and so on right down to my present plate HHH666.   Each plate replaced the one before it.  

Note that the names I have used for the plate types may not match the official description.

* Qualification required:
Veteran to be certified by Royal Canadian Legion (requires at least 2 years service)
Handicapped requires physician certification,
Amateur Radio requires possession of federal amateur radio certificate (licence).

Each of these plates was on my car for at least a couple of months.    In the beginning the clerks at the local Access Nova Scotia office would ask for the previous plate to be turned in, but I was successful in overcoming that, sometimes with going upwards to the supervisor and explaining that I am a plate collector.  I carried a very old plate with me and my ALPCA card, to help in looking legitimate.  Later, as time went on they stopped asking.   I am sure that familiarity helps, and as well, who you get at the counter.

This group of plates includes all that are possible for myself to obtain for my private passenger car.   Had I been a firefighter or Ground Search and Rescue volunteer or had an antique car, I would have qualified for more.   

Note that several of plates are available to anyone who cares to pay the substantial fee associated, generally around $50 premium on top of the regular fees.   Note that you do not have to have Gaelic, Acadian or Mi'kmaw background to obtain those plates. I do admit that I felt a little guilty driving around with the Acadian and Mi'kmaw plates on my car.   The Gaelic one was fine as my parents were both from Scotland. The vanity plate has an even higher fee, at around $125.    The specialty plates that are based on having a particular qualification do not have any additional fee involved. 

Note that the Vanity, Handicapped and Amateur Radio plates come in pairs, the others are singles, back only.

You will have noted that several of the specialty plates have double digits.   The handicapped plate does not have double digits, but does have my year of birth.  This is all thanks to a helpful go-to clerk at Access Nova Scotia who would go through the stock in the building to find a "good one" for me.  Only had to settle for one random plate... MBL83.